Narrative Theories Vladimir Propp Published Morphology of the
Narrative Theories
Vladimir Propp • Published Morphology of the Tale in 1928 • Based on Russian folk tales • Searched for ”grammar of narratives” • Formalist idea to uncover system in narratives • Influential in film as well
Propp • 31 plot elements/functions possible in folk tales • Not all must be in all tales • Combination usually occur in this order • 4 main stages
Propp – 31 functions Steps 1 to 7 INTRODUCE the situation and most of the main characters, setting the scene for subsequent adventure. 1. Absentation: Someone goes missing 2. Interdiction: Hero is warned 3. Violation of interdiction 4. Reconnaissance: Villain seeks something 5. Delivery: The villain gains information 6. Trickery: Villain attempts to deceive victim 7. Complicity: Unwitting helping of the enemy
Propp – 31 functions BODY The main story starts here and extends to the departure of the hero on the main quest. 8. Villainy and lack: The need is identified 9. Mediation: Hero discovers the lack 10. Counteraction: Hero chooses positive action 11. Departure: Hero leave on mission
Propp – 31 functions The Donor Sequence The hero goes in search of a method by which the solution may be reached, gaining the magical agent from the Donor. Note that this in itself may be a complete story. 12. Testing: Hero is challenged to prove heroic qualities 13. Reaction: Hero responds to test 14. Acquisition: Hero gains magical item 15. Guidance: Hero reaches destination 16. Struggle: Hero and villain do battle 17. Branding: Hero is branded 18. Victory: Villain is defeated 19. Resolution: Initial misfortune or lack is resolved
Propp – 31 functions The Hero’s return In the final (and often optional) phase of the storyline, the hero returns home, hopefully uneventfully and to a hero's welcome 20. Return: Hero sets out for home 21. Pursuit: Hero is chased 22. Rescue: pursuit ends 23. Arrival: Hero arrives unrecognized 24. Claim: False hero makes unfounded claims 25. Task: Difficult task proposed to the hero 26. Solution: Task is resolved 27. Recognition: Hero is recognized 28. Exposure: False hero is exposed 29. Transfiguration: Hero is given a new appearance 30. Punishment: Villain is punished 31. Wedding: Hero marries and ascends the throne
Propp – 7 characters • Narrative functions carried out by 7 main character types ü the hero, who departs on a search (seeker-hero), reacts to the donor and weds ü the donor, ü the helper, ü the Princess, a sought-for person (and/or her father), who exists as a goal and often recognizes and marries hero and/or punishes villain ü the dispatcher, ü the villain, who struggles with the hero ü the false hero (or antihero or usurper), who claims to be the hero, often seeking and reacting like a real hero (ie. by trying to marry the princess)
Example: Hunger Games • Hero = Katniss
Example: Hunger Games • Villian = President Snow
Example: Hunger Games • Donor = Haymitch
Example: Hunger Games • Helper = Cinna
Example: Hunger Games • Princess: Peeta
Example: Hunger Games • Dispatcher = Effie Trinket
Example: Star Wars • Hero • Villian • Donor • Dispatcher • Helper • Princess • Luke Skywalker • Darth Vader • Obe-Wan Kenobe • R 2 D 2 • Yoda / Han Solo & Chewbacca • Leia
Propp - weaknesses • Formalism leaves out social aspect • Looks only at narrative itself without any outside influences • However, good for accounting for popularity • Audience knows what to expect
Using theory • Goal: identify the underlying structure • Describe theory briefly! • Do not simply re-tell story/plot • Identify functions and characters • Not all must be present! • Does this account for text/work’s popularity? How? Parallels?
Tzevtan Todorov’s theory of equilibrium • Proposed by Todorov in 1969 • Explanation of how all narratives develop • Based on Aristotle’s ideas • 5 stages
Todorov • Equilibrium • Disruption • Recognition • Repair • New equilibrium
Todorov • Narrative not linear • Circular but ends at a new place • Allows for character development • Narrative driven by transformation • Outside normal social framework
Example: Alien • Equilibrium
Example: Alien • Disruption
Example: Alien • Recognition
Example: Alien • Repair damage
Example: Alien • Equilibrium restored • New equilibrium
Using theory • Discuss theory briefly • Identify stages in the work itself • Does character development take place? • Major variations? • Awareness of the pattern has led to ”open endings” • How does this affect our understanding of transformation?
Levi-Strauss – binary opposites • French anthropologist—helped to develop idea in 1950 s • The Structural Study of Myth • Word/idea can only be understood via its opposite • Good only exists in context of bad
Binary opposites • Male • Strong • Good • Youth • Cool • Sane • Living • brave • Female • Weak • Evil • Aged • Nerd • Insane • Dead • cowardly
Binary opposites • One side of pair conveys society’s dominant values/ideology • Helps convey messages to audiences quickly and compactly • Conflict between two drives narrative forward • Helps reveal underlying values and symbols
Binary opposites • What values are conveyed here? • What are the opposites?
Example: Harry Potter • Harry – Voldemort • Good – Evil • Wizard – Muggle
Example: The Dark Knight
Example: Fight Club • Visual differences reinforce theme • Personality differences drive narrative forward • Conflict between two characters moves narrative • But binary difference is located within one character. . .
Using theory • Discuss theory • Identify binaries • Characters, visual cues • How is it shorthand for audience? • Does it reinforce social norms or call them into question?
Roland Barthes’ Narrative Codes • French literary critic publishes ”S/Z” in 1970 • Sees a text as a mystery—a ball of codes that needs to be unwound • Analyzes a short story using 5 codes • Untangling ball = plurality of meanings
Barthes • Hermenutic or enigma code: • Audience presented with mystery. Expects resolution at end. • Questions presented that must be answered • Plot elements that raise questions • Proairetic or Action code: • Events which lead to other events
Enigma code
Action code
Barthes • The Symbolic Code: • Organizes semantic meaning into broader and deeper sets of meaning. Typically done in the use of antithesis, new meaning arises out of opposing and conflicting ideas. • The Semantic Code: • Points to any element in a text that suggests a particular, often additional meaning by way of connotation which the story suggests.
Symbolic code
Barthes • The Cultural Code: • Looks at the audiences wider cultural knowledge, morality and ideology. • Knowledge that exists outside the text
Review • Propp’s theory (31 functions – 7 characters) • Tudorov – theory of equilibrium (5 stages) • Levi Strauss – binary opposites • Barthes – narrative codes (5 codes)
- Slides: 42